The sound of typing
Get started on mechanical keyboards
There’s something about mechanical keyboards. Perhaps it’s the aesthetics, the touch and feel, the customisation, or even the sound of the keys. It’s the latter that’s so satisfying to me. I like a clicky, noisy keyboard, though that probably makes me a poor desk neighbour. Mechanical keyboards are not just tools anymore. They are objects to be lusted over by collectors who aren’t shy at spending big bucks on their hobby. An obsession articulated perfectly by this New Yorker story.
But like some hobbies, it can be intimidating for novices to get into. Where to start? The switches, key caps, or layout? The good news is that there’s plenty of online material to kickstart your mechanical keyboard journey. For instance, you can start with our beginner’s guide on choosing the right keyboard layout. Once you have bought one (or more), and played around with them, you may also want to learn how to maintain them, and keep them in tip-top condition. And if you’re unsure which keyboard is worth buying, here’s a list of our keyboard reviews.
Meanwhile, we have been testing the following gear (a retro-looking controller, a 65-inch Xiaomi TV, and Razer’s latest wireless earbuds) this past week. Check out the links below for our verdicts.
The 8BitDo Pro 2 may look retro, but it’s arguably one of the best third-party controllers you can buy for less than S$60. It feels great in the hands, and has all the buttons you’ll conceivably need, and more. Best of all, it works with all devices, from smartphones to the latest consoles.
The Xiaomi TV Q2 is one of several affordable QLED TVs that offer decent performance for its price (S$1,399 for 65-inch). Its quantum-dot layer make for more vibrant images than a standard LCD TV, though its HDR performance is only middling. But its Google TV interface is responsive, easy to navigate, and offers plenty of third-party apps.
Razer’s new Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed is a mixed bag. These wireless earbuds do well in certain areas — audio quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. But they are also flawed in several ways, notably clunky controls and poor battery life. In short, try them if you can.